Washing device with sponge-like working element

ABSTRACT

A washing device has a housing having an axis and a peripheral wall which defines an inner hollow and is closed in a peripheral direction around the axis, and a sponge-like working element associated with the housing and movable between a working position in which the sponge-like working element is located outside the hollow of the housing for washing a surface, and a position in which the sponge-like working element is forcedly moved into the hollow formed by the peripherally closed wall so as to be squeezed and therefore to expel liquid from the sponge-like working element and to remain confined within said inner hollow enclosed by said peripheral wall.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to washing devices.

More particularly, it relates to washing devices which have asponge-like working element which can be used for washing of objects andthe like by rubbing against said objects with application of waterand/or washing solution. Some of such devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 5,992,140; 5,522,110; 6,217,244; 1,065,975; and 1,122,979. Some ofthe devices disclosed in the references provide squeezing of thesponge-like working elements. However, it is believed that they can befurther improved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide awashing device with a sponge-like working element which is a furtherimprovement of the existing devices.

In keeping with these objects and with others which will become apparentherein after, one feature of the present invention resides, brieflystated, in a washing device, comprising a housing having an axis and aperipheral wall which defines an inner hollow and is closed in aperipheral direction around said axis; and a sponge-like working elementassociated with said housing and movable between a working position inwhich said sponge-like working element is located outside said hollow ofsaid housing for washing a surface, and a position in which saidsponge-like working element is forcedly moved into said hollow formed bysaid peripherally closed wall so as to be squeezed and therefore toexpel liquid from said sponge-like working element.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for thepresent invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims.The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and itsmethod of operation, together with additional objects and advantagesthereof, will be best understood from the following description ofspecific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view showing a vertical section of a washing device inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view showing a transverse section of the inventive washingdevice taken along the line A-A in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to the view of FIG. 2 but showing anotherembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a view substantially corresponding to the view of FIG. 1 butshowing the device in a non-working position in which a sponge-likeworking element is retracted into an inner hollow of the housing; and

FIG. 5 is a view corresponding to the view of FIG. 1 but showing afurther embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A washing device in accordance with the present invention has a housingwhich is identified with reference numeral 1. The housing 1 has an axiswhich is a vertical axis in FIG. 1, and a wall which is peripherallyclosed around the axis. In the shown embodiment the housing 1 is formedas a hollow truncated cone which has an inner hollow 2. It is however tobe understood that the housing 1 can have a different shape (see FIG.3), but always has the substantially peripherally closed wall with aninner surface 3 which defines the inner hollow 2.

Means are provided in the inner hollow 2 of the housing 1, which causethe inner surface 3 to deviate from a strictly circularly cylindricalshape. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, these means include atleast one rib 4, or in particular in this embodiment four ribs. It is tobe understood that the number of ribs can be different. In anotherembodiment, means which cause deviation of the inner surface 3 from acircular cylindrical shape can be for example an oval shape of the innersurface 3 (FIG. 2). The purpose of this means, formed for example as theribs 4 the oval shape of the wall of the housing 1 will be explainedherein below.

The housing 1 has an upper opening 5 which can be for examplecylindrical. A displacing element 6 is slidingly movable in the opening5. It is formed as a container having an inner chamber 7 which can befilled with a washing liquid, etc. The displacing element 6 has a bottomformed as a hub 8 with a threaded opening 9, while the upper portion ofthe displacing element 6 is provided with a thread 10 and a supportingstep 11.

A sponge-like working element 13 which can be formed for example as adisc with an opening 14 is connected to the displacing element 6 by athreaded flange 12. The flange 12 is composed of plastic material andhas a threaded part 15 which is threaded into the threaded opening 9 ofthe hub 8, and a disc 16 for holding the sponge-like working element 13.Conical projections 17 are provided on the lower surface of the hub 8for engaging into the sponge-like working element 13 and preventing itsturning relative to the displacing element 6. The housing 1 at the lowerend ends with a flange 18 which simultaneously forms a support for thesponge-like working element 13 and as a cover.

A unit for dispensing the substance from the chamber 7 of the displacingelement 6 is identified with reference numeral 19 and can be formed as aspraying unit, a pumping unit, and the like. It is threaded on thethread 10 of the displacing element 6.

The device is further provided with a container 20 having a peripherallyclosed wall and a somewhat conical bottom 21 with an opening 22. Anelastic suction disc 23 is located inside a cavity of the conical bottom21, and its integrated threaded insert 24 is threadingly connected witha screw 25 having wings 26 for screwing the screw 25 into the insert 24.

The washing device in accordance with the present invention operates inthe following manner.

The chamber 7 of the displacing element 6 is filled with a washingsubstance. By means of the dispensing device 19 it is supplied on asurface to be washed with the sponge-like working element of the device.The surface is then washed with the sponge-like working element. Whenthe washing process is finished, the sponge-like working element 13 ispulled upwardly in FIGS. 1 and 4 in an axial direction. The sponge-likewashing element is washed with water and pulled into the hollow 2 of thehousing 1 which is completely peripherally closed many times, so as toprovide squeezing of the substance/water from the sponge-like workingelement. During pulling of the sponge-like working element 13 bydisplacing of the displacing element 6, the displacing element 6 isturned by a user around its axis. As a result, during pulling thesponge-like working element 13 into the hollow of the housing 1 it isnot only squeezed because of its introduction into the hollow 2, but itis also twisted since at least a part of the sponge-like working element13 is subjected to resistance of the ribs 4 in the embodiment of FIG. 2or to resistance of two opposite walls of the oval cross-section whichare closer to the axis than two other opposite walls in the embodimentof FIG. 3.

In order to prevent hardening of the sponge-like working elements 13 inthe inner hollow of the housing 1 the sponge-like working element 13 ismoved downwardly into the container 20 so as to be held in a spread-outposition.

By pressing down the displacing element 6, the movement is transmittedto the suction cup 23 through the parts 25 and 12, and air is partiallyexpelled from a chamber 27 under the suction cup 23 so that thecontainer 20 is sucked to a supporting surface, the container 20 isretained on the supporting surface, while the device with thesponge-like working elements 13 can be removed from the container. Inorder to permanently retain the container 20 on the supporting surface agreater suction must be provided in the cavity 27. For this purpose thedisc 25 is screwed a little more upwardly out of the insert 24, andtherefore by pressing the displacing element 6 downwardly a greatervacuum is created in the cavity 27.

In the washing device in accordance with the present invention, thesponge-like working element 13 in its position of non-use is reliablyconfined in the container 20, so that the sponge-like working elementretains a little moist and does not harden. The hardened sponges usuallyrequire additional time and substance for their moisturizing and alsoare prone to damages and tears in their hardened condition. Also, sincethe sponge-like working element is confined in the completely enclosedcontainer 20, it does not contaminate surrounding objects.

FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of the invention. Here a threadedflange 32 has a threaded part 33 which is threaded into the threadedopening 9 of the hub 8 and also has a plurality of projections 34engaged in the sponge-like working element 13 to hold in it.

In addition, the threaded flange 32 has a brush-like portion with aplurality of bristle bundles 35, to perform also a brushing action.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofconstructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied inwashing device with sponge-like working element, it is not intended tobe limited to the details shown, since various modifications andstructural changes may be made without departing in any way from thespirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.

1. A washing device, comprising a housing having an axis and aperipheral wall which defines an inner hollow and is closed in aperipheral direction around said axis; and a sponge-like working elementassociated with said housing and movable between a working position inwhich said sponge-like working element is located outside said hollow ofsaid housing for washing a surface, and a position in which saidsponge-like working element is forcedly moved into said hollow formed bysaid peripherally closed wall so as to be squeezed and therefore toexpel liquid from said sponge-like working element and to remainconfined within said inner hollow enclosed by said peripheral wall.
 2. Awashing device as defined in claim 1; and further comprising adisplacing element which is connected with said sponge-like workingelement and displaces said sponge-like working element between saidpositions.
 3. A washing device as defined in claim 2, wherein saiddisplacing element is turnable about said axis so that when saiddisplacing element moves said sponge-like working element from saidinner hollow to said working position, said displacing element isturnable and turns said sponge-like working element about said axis. 4.A washing device as defined in claim 3, wherein said housing is providedwith means for squeezing said working element during turning saidworking element about said axis.
 5. A washing device as defined in claim1, wherein said means for squeezing include at least one formationprojecting into said hollow and formed so that when said sponge-likeworking element is turned it is squeezed by overcoming a resistance ofsaid at least one formation.
 6. A washing device as defined in claim 5,wherein said at least one formation is formed as a rib provided on aninner surface of said housing and extending inwardly into said hollow.7. A washing device as defined in claim 2, wherein said displacingelement is hollow and fillable with a washing substance.
 8. A washingdevice as defined in claim 7; and further comprising means fordispensing the substance from said displacing element onto a surface tobe washed.
 9. A washing device as defined in claim 2, wherein saidhousing has two axial ends and is closed at at least one of said axialends by said displacing element; and further comprising means forclosing said housing at the other axial end after said sponge-likeworking element is moved to said non-working position inside said hollowof said housing.
 10. A washing device as defined in claim 1; and furthercomprising a container for accommodating said sponge-like workingelement before a next use.
 11. A washing device as defined in claim 10,wherein said container is associated with said housing so that a part ofsaid housing closes said container.
 12. A washing device as defined inclaim 10; and further comprising suction means from attaching a bottomof said container to a supporting surface, said suction means beingactuatable by a displacing element which is connected with saidsponge-like working element and displaces said sponge-like workingelement between said positions.
 13. A washing device as defined in claim1; and further comprising a connecting element which connects saidsponge-like working element and is provided with a brush-shaped portion.